Shower cabinet



Nov. 18, 1930. F. H. LEWIS V 8 ,692

SHOWER CABINET Fiied Feb. 1, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 27220271016, ML LS 7Z5156 g j I 711%] W, q

Nov. l8, 1930. F. H. LEWIS 1, 2

- SHOWER CABINET FiledF eb. 1.- 1930 2 Sheets-She 2' M Wag/MM W ,M the back and side members,

Patented Nov. 18, 1930 UNITEDTSTATES,

FREDERICK H. LEWIS, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS SHOWER CABI I Application filed Februaryl, 1930. E'Serial Nor/125,105.

pending application Serial No. 892,575, filed September 14, 1929.

10 It is an'object of th1s invention toprovide I a tight 'seal'between the ad oining sections or casing members in order that the same may besecured together to make a unitary structure which is self-sustaining, rigid and absolutely water proof. V

" It is a further object of this inventlon to provide a novel head rail construction which is simple in design and yet rigid adding T strength and rigidity to the entirefassembly. It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel threshold or curbing definlng the bottom of the entry into the shower cabinet.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an integral receptor arranged and constructed to fit within the bottom pan of the casing.

A better understanding will be had of this invention from a consideration of the follow- L ing description given in connection with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of one rear panel, one side panel, one pilaster and the bottom pan sections in their relatedpositions ready- 735 for assembly, I

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2.2 of Flg. 7

Fig. 3 is a detail showing the manner of joining the longitudinal marginal edges of Fig. 4 is a planview with certain parts re moved, g

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the cabinet just above the pan member, r r

Fig. (3 is a detail of one end of the head rail and one pilaster, v r

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through line 7-7 of Figures 4 and 5, I

' Fig. 8 is a plan view of the receptor, 7 Fig.9 is a frontelevation of the receptor,

Fig. 10 isa section online 1010 of Figure Sji'and v :Fig. 11 is a perspective detail of the head. rail assembly. I I

Referring particularly to Figure 1 it is seen that thecasing or cabinet which in itself forms a water tight self-sustaining compartment and which may be utilized as the'base upon which tile or other covering may be placed, is formedoftwo side panels 2, of which only one is shown and a back connecting panel'3. The side panelsQ. are ofi'set inwardly at their rearmost vertical edges as at l, the offset marginal edges having a pairof outwardly projecting ribs 6 formed therein throughout substantially the entire length of thejmarginal edges.

The forward portions of the side walls-'2 arefflangedinwardly as at 7 to form partial front walls and the inner surfaces of the two pi'lasters definingthe entry into the cabinet. The marginal edges of the inturned portions are bent outwardly] and back upon them selves to form U-shape'd channels 8, the chan' nel-8being omitted atthe lowerend where the wall fits within the pan later to be described. The outer sectionof the pilaster is in the: form of a U-shapedmember 9 one arm 9 being considerably shorter than arm 10. Vhen infposition the shorter arm 9 of the member 9 fits within the channel portion 7 8 and the outer arm 10 lies adjacent the outer surface of the wall'Q as is clearly shown in Fig. 5. g

The vertical marginal edges of the rear panel of wall 8 are flanged inwardly as at 11 and then back upon themselves as at 12 to form narrow chan'nel-likeedge portionsto the panel. When in position the channel-' like portion of the wall 3 fitswithin the offset portions 4 of the side walls. The depth of the channel llis the exact width of the offset portion 4 and the depth ofthe flange 12 isexactly the thickness of the offset por tion as s clearly shown in F1gure'3 thus making the oint a flush o nt as viewed from both sides of the corner, It is to benoted that the structure just described forms a closed pocket between the flange. 11 and the marginal edge 4 within which is placed a.

The bottom edges of the back, side walls and pilasters are inserted within a rectangular pan 14 having an upstanding rim 16 which extends upwardly over the outer .surface of the lower edges of the side walls, back and pilasters. The pan is bolted to the other elements by means of bolts 17 which may be sealed to the pan if desired. In order' to effect a tight seal between the rim l6 and the lower ends of the walls ,of the cabinet and particularly to prevent water from seeping made at all joints.

through around the bolt holes a cork or other equivalent washer-'18 is placed around the bolt under the nut or head as desired and is compressed thereby to make a'tightseal. If desired a metal washer 19 may be inserted betweenthe cork washer and the nut in order to prevent the nut from tearing the cork washer. It is thus seen that a tight seal is In order to make a rigid'threshold or curbing at'the entrance into the shower cabinet the upper edge of the rim 16 is flanged inwardly as at'21 and then downwardly upon itself as at 22. 'The channelthus formed by flanges 21 and 22 is reinforced and the space therebehind closed by a Z-bar 23 the upper outwardly extending flange of which fits under the flange 21 and. between the rim 16 and the depending flange 22. The lower inwardly projecting flange of the Z-bar lies'in contact with the bottom of the pan to which it may be welded or otherwise secured if desired. It is to be noted that the U-shaped channels 8 of the inner edges of the pilasters do not continue the full length of the pllasters but terminate short thereof and rest upon the inturncd flange 21. The outer surfaces 9 ofthe central section of the pilasters are flush with theouter surface of the rim 16 thus making a smooth joint.

At the upper end the pilasters and side walls are secured together and braced by a head rail. construction involving, two cooperative head rail members126 and 27 (shown in Fig. 11). The member 26 is formed from a flat strip of sheet material of proper length to fit between the opposed side walls 2 of the cabinet. The longitudinal edges of the member 26 are fianged'laterally and then toward each other to form two channeldike edges 28 and29 along the top and bottom edges of themember 26K The lower channel does not extend the full length of the member but terthe top ends of the pilasters while the lower channel 29 fitting between the pilasters maintains them in proper spaced relation. The second member of the head rail 27 is a flat strip of sheet material of suiiicient width to fit between the flanges 28 and 29 and of a lengthequal to that of the member 26 and the thicknesses of the side walls 2, the arms 10. The vertical or short ends of member 27 are flanged over as at 31 and when in position engage the outer surfaces of the arms 10 and prevent the pilasters and side walls from spreading outwardly away'from each other.

In assembling the head rail the members 26 and 27 are placed together and inserted between and over the pilasters with the member26 extending behind the pilasters and the member 27in front thereof and with the turned flanges 31 of the latter engaging the outer surfaces of the pilasters. It will be seen from the above that with the head rail in place the pilasters cannot be moved either inwardly, outwardly or out of alignment. In order that tile or any suitable covering may be secured to the walls of the cabinet furring strips 32 may be welded to all interior and-exterior surfaces wherever desired. Thesestrips also serve as stiifeners for the entire cabinet. In addition the furring strip secured to the inner surface of the Z-bar is preferably made of proper length to fit snugly between the inner lower edges of the flanges 7 and serve to space these flanges and hold the side walls in place particularly while assembling. This particular furring strip determines the door opening.

If desired instead of using a tile, cement, terrazzo, or equivalent material for the base or receptor of the cabinet, a molded receptor may be used as is shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. As shown the receptor 35 is molded from any suitable material and is of generally rectangular shape with upstanding side walls one of which is recessed as at 36 to provide a lowered stoop between the pilasters. The upstanding wall is molded with a projecting flange 37 the outer upper surface of which is inclined'as at 38 and provided with an annular outwardly projecting shoulder When assembling the receptor in the pan a strip of felt, cork or equivalent material may be placed around the inclined edge 38 and which will contact against the inner surfaces of the side walls and back wall and thus make a water tight oint. The recessed portion belowshoulder 39 provides a space for any bolts or nuts which may project through the rim of the pan.

It follows from the above that there is pro- ,vided a shower bath cabinet or casing which may be used as the form upon which the shower cabinet can be completed and which presents a self-sustaining rigid, leak proof and economical construction which is simple to assemble.

Itis understood that many Variations may be made from the details of construction above described without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a shower bath casing, a pan havingan upturned rim, an inclosure comprising a rear panel, side panels and pilasters extending upwardly from and secured to said upstanding rim, the front edge of said rim being flanged inwardly and downwardly to provide a threshold and a reinforcing member inserted between said flangeand the bottom of said pan.

2. In a shower bath casing, a pan having an upturned rim, an inclosure comprisinga rear panel, side panels and pilasters extending upwardly from and secured to said upstanding rim, the front edge of said rim being flanged inwardly and downwardly to provide a threshold and areinforcing strip spaced from said rim and extending between said flange and the bottom of said pan.

3. In a shower bath casing, a pan having an upturned rim, an inclosure comprising a rear panel, side panels and pilasters extend-- ing upwardly from and secured to said upstanding rim, the front edge of said rim being flanged inwardly and downwardly to provide a threshold and a Z-shaped reinforcing strip underlying said flange to reinforce the same.

4. In a shower bath casing, a pan, an inclosure comprising a rear panel, side panels and pilasters extending upwardly from and secured to said pan, a head rail construction joining the upper ends of said pilasters comprising a flanged member disposed between and engaging the upper ends of said pilasters, and having portions thereof engaging said pilasters to prevent movements thereof toward and from each other.

5. In a shower bath casing, a pan, an inclosure comprising a rear panel, side panels and pilasters extending upwardly from and I secured to said pan, a head rail construction joining the upper ends of said pilasters comprising a flanged member disposed between and engaging the upper ends of said pilasters, a second member interlocking with said flanged member and engaging said pilasters to prevent movements thereof away from each other. 6. In a shower bath casing, a pan, an inclosure comprising a rear panel, side panels and pilasters extending upwardly from and secured to said pan, a head rail construction joining the upper ends of said pilasters comprising a flanged member disposed between and engaging the upper ends of said pilasters, a second member interlocking with said flanged member and engaging the exterior a second member interlocking with said flangedm'ember said second member having flanged ends engaging said pilasters to prevent outward movement thereof.

8. In a shower bath casing, a pan, an inclosure comprising arear panel, side panels and pilasters extending upwardly from and secured to said pan, ahead rail construction oining the upper ends of said pilasters comprisinga member having one longitudinal edge flanged to interlock with the upper ends of said pilasters and one longitudinal edge thereofflanged for a portion of its length and disposed between said pilasters to prevent movements toward each other and a second member interlocking with'said flanged member and engaginp' said pilasters to prevent movement thereor away from each other.

9. In a'shower-bath casing,a pan having an upturned rim, an inclosure comprising a rear panel and side panels extending upward ly from said pan, bolts securingthe lower edges of said inclosure to the rim of said pan and sealing washers disposed between the panels and the nuts of said'bolts adapted to be compressed by said nuts. to make a tight seal around said bolt. 7

'10. Ina shower bath casing, a pan having an upturned rim, an inclosure comprising a rear panel and side panels extending upwardly and secured to said pan the marginal edges of one of said adjoining panels being oflset inwardly, the opposed marginal edge of the ad oining panel being flanged at l'l llt angles and then upon itself whereby the two ad oining marginal edges when joined define ing marginal edges when joined define a. closed chamber therebetween one of said edges having longitudinal ribs formed therein.

- 12. In a shower bath casing, a pan having an upturned rim, an inclosure comprising a rearpanel and side panels extending upwardly and secured to said pan, one of the marginaledges of each of said side panels being flanged atright angles and then back upon itself to form a channeled edge and U-shaped pilaster strips having one arm interlocked in said channel and the other arm engaging the M side panel to form pilaster sections. i 13. In a shower bath casing, a pan having an upturned rim, an inclosure comprising a rear panel, side panels and pilasters extending upwardly from and secured to said up- 31 D standing rim, the front edge of said rim being flanged inwardly and downwardly tolprovide a threshold, a reinforcing member inserted aetween said flange and the bottomof said pan, and a spacing strip disposed between the inner surfaces of said sidewalls; V

, 1a. In ashower bath casing, a pan having an upturned rim, an inclosure comprising a rear panel, sidepanels and pilasters extending upwardly from and secured to said upstanding rim, the front edge of said rim being flanged inwardly and downwardly to provide a threshold, a reinforcing member in serted between said flange and the bottom of said pan, and a spacing stripvsecured to said reinforcing strip, said spacing strip extending between the inner surfaces of said side walls. a L a v 15. In a shower bath casing, a pan having an upturned rim, an inclosure comprising a rear panel, side panels, the latter having in turned flanges, and pilasters extending upwardly from and secured to said upturned rim, the front edge of said rim being flanged inwardly and downwardly to provide a threshold, a reinforcing member inserted between said flange and the bottom of said pan, and a spacing strip disposed between the inturnedflanges of said side panels.

16. Ina shower bath casing, a pan having an upturned rim, an inclosure comprising a rear panel, side panels, the latter having inturned flanges, and pilasters extending upwardly from and secured to said upturned .rim, furring strips secured to the inner surfaces of said panels, the front edge of said rim being flanged inwardly and downwardly to provide a threshold, a reinforcing member inserted between said flange and the bottom'of said pan, and a furring strip secured to said reinforcing member and disposed between the inner edges of said inturned flanges.

L7. In a shower bath casing, a pan having an upturned rim, an inclosure comprising a rear panel and side panels extending upwardly and secured to said pan, the marginal. edges of one of said adjoining panels being ofl'set inwardly, the opposed marginal edge of the adjoining panelbeing flanged at right angles whereby the two adjoining marginal edges when oined define a substantially closed chamber therebetwcen one of said edges having longitudinal ribs formed therein.

In witness of the foregoing I ailiX my signature.

r FREDERICK H. LEWIS. 

